Return Of The (High) King! Part 2 - Planning The Defense Of Easthold

High King Thorgrim calls a meeting of all the Dwarf commanders.

King Kazador welcomes High King Thorgrim and relinquishes overall command of Easthold to him.  Kazador gives a situation report to the High King, about how much food and beer are in the stores of Easthold.  He also tells of the approaching enemies of Undead, Orcs, and Drow.  The greatest threat of the three seems to be the Undead army raised by Murkillor the Wraith.

Princes Ulther and Helfast state how they have delayed the Undead as best they could, but the skeletal army is an endless horde.  Prince Ulther says that he hopes Gimli, Gloin, and Baron Hawk can get here before the enemy arrives.

Chief Ratnik finishes drinking his tankard of ale then speaks up and says he has bad news.  He has received a message from Baron Hawk, via his favorite bird.   Gimli and company have joined forces with some Dwarves that entered from the Westgate of Moria, its King Gorrin and the 8 Dwarves of Legend, Grombrindal the White Dwarf, and Hodor and his mercenaries.  They have found the Chamber of Mazarbul and know where Balin might be.  Unfortunately they have been cutoff and are unable to break through enemy lines.  So, they are heading deep below Moria to find Balin and then come back with his forces to break the siege. Gimli wishes the defenders of Easthold good luck and hope they can hold out until he can return with Balin's forces.

High King Thorgrim then says, they must hold out as Gimli says.
Runelord Kragg has been working with Balgar Blackwing and his assistants to create a Dwarven Rune Totem.

They present their creation, the Rune Vane of Morr.  It creates a shield of protection around it that undead cannot pass through.  The range of the shielded area reaches just a little over the furthest end of the Bridge of Khazad-Dum.  It will not stop orcs or drow though, who will definitely try to destroy the Totem.

Now, the deployment of the defenders...

King Kazador and his Goldshields will be deployed inside Easthold proper, right inside the Gate.

Nine crossbow Dwarves will line the battlements of Easthold.  Their range reaches along the bridge and slightly past it.

The Catapult will be able to fire at anything on the table.  Oh, it does have a minimum range of 18".

High King Thorgrim and Runelord Kragg are right outside the entrance to the lower Keep and the food stores, where the bulk of the civilian populace, womenfolk and children are.

Prince Ulther deploys right under the walls, to protect Easthold against siege ladders.

Four Slayers will hold the bridge.

Behind them, Prince Helfast is deployed.  Behind them are some citizen militia... Its Mochi, the Ninja Dwarf, Chumley, Cheery, Ratcatcher, Penny and friends.

Here is the furthest end of the table where the tunnel that leads eastward to the actual Eastgate of Moria is.  The Organ Cannon gun covers the entrance to Easthold.  The Ratnik Clan and the Beer Cart Defenders are here too, to cover the back field, in case anything gets through.

Finally we have an overview of the eastern side of the Bridge.

So, the board is set, the pieces are moving, and the opening salvoes are ready to fire.

Next post:  Enemy At The Gates!

Return Of The (High) King! Part 1 - Easthold's New Arrivals

Greetings, dear readers, in this post we return to Easthold in Moria and show off the new Dwarven arrivals / reinforcements.

Left to Right: Banner bearer for Prince Ulther's Imperial Dwarves, High King Thorgrim Grudgebearer, and Runelord Kragg.

Thorgrim is the descendant of the most ancient and noble of all Dwarf lords. The very blood of Grungni flows in his veins and the wisdom of Valaya sits upon his brow. The High Kings have kept the Great Book of Grudges, the oldest and most important of the many Books of Grudges that exist throughout the Dwarf realms . This book, known as Dammaz Kron, recounts all the ancient wrongs and deeds of treachery perpetrated against the Dwarf race.

Runelord Kragg the Grim is the oldest and by far the greatest living Runesmith - a gnarled old Dwarf, strong and enduring as a weather-beaten oak. His staff bears his own personal master rune which he refuses to share with anyone, finding none worthy of it. His armour is the finest and strongest in the kingdom. So strong and thick that none could pierce it, his knowledge of ancient rune smithing and crafting techniques is unsurpassed, and he has witnessed the wonders of Karak Ankor at the height of its power.

5 new Goldshields for King Kazador.

Brand new Dwarf technology in the form of gunpowder weaponry.
Its the Organ Cannon Gun.

 Here is a champion of Prince Ulther's Imperial Dwarves.

And I finally have the Bridge of Khazad Dum!

It is a Hudson & Allen Three-Arch Bridge.  Very light weight, nice details, and takes paint well.

Now for some fluff...

King Kazador and his commanders have been fighting a defensive retreat against a vast horde of Undead, Orcs, and Drow.  But now they have returned to make a last stand in Easthold.  The Dwarven citizens come out to cheer the approaching Dwarven forces.  Bugmans Brewery has their Cart set up to greet the army with nice cold beer!

Chumley:  Whats going on here?  I just got back from chopping wood near the borders of Lorien.
Cheery Dwarf:  Arent you paying attention?  The Captains of Easthold are returning.  Here they come!

Four Dwarven Slayers are the first to cross the Bridge of Khazad-Dum.

Chumley:  Seeing them reminds me of Valdor. 
Cheery Dwarf:  Huzzah!  Welcome back, Slayers!

Behind the Slayers, the Heartbreakers come marching proudly with their leader Prince Helfast and Councillor Thadar.

Chumley:  How many of them are there?
Cheery Dwarf: Twenty mighty warriors from the Heartbreak Hills!

After them, comes Prince Ulther and his Imperial dwarves.

Chumley:  Brave Prince Ulther!  I used to cut wood for his father.
Cheery Dwarf: Sixteen well armored and highly disciplined Dwarves.  They can form a shieldwall like no other.

Then King Kazador himself and his heroic Goldshields.

Chumley:  What fine shields they carry!
Cheery Dwarf:  Ten Goldshields, each one is a hero worthy of a saga.

And bringing up the rear, is Chief Ratnik.

Chumley:  Those are some of the fattest Dwarves Ive ever seen.  Is that all that is coming?
Cheery Dwarf:  Eleven stout Ratnik Clan warriors.  Dont forget about Gimli and his forces!  They are still out there, somewhere...

Next post:  Part 2 - Planning The Defense Of Easthold